About HELPING

Helping is a Stanstead Abbotts based charity supporting schools and communities in The Gambia, West Africa. The charity provides direct, practical assistance in the form of educational equipment, clothing, school building and sponsorship. It is run on a voluntary basis and is dependent upon the support of its membership and donations from the community. http://www.helping-Gambia.org.uk/

The charity was started by Chris and Margaret Meeks after a visit to The Gambia in 1998. They saw the poor state of some of the schools and decided to try and help. They raised money to build a double classroom and library at Fass School and supplied some much-needed equipment. Following requests to help with other schools and nurseries, Chris, Margaret and some friends formed Helping in 2003 and registered with the Charity Commission. The charity now assists four schools and eight nurseries two of which are at Fass one in the school grounds and one in the village which was built with Lisa and Gavin's wedding gift money . All our nurseries were provided with school uniforms, furniture, and equipment. The teachers are paid by the charity ( some are sponsored and we are always looking for sponsorship for teachers). We are trying to give all nursery children a free nursery lunch when we raise enough funds. One of the schools is twinned with Sacred Heart RC Primary School in Ware, Herts. The charity has also assisted a group of elderly people in Serrekunda, providing a well and seeds and given vegetable seeds to a group of young people for their village and schools for the school vegetable garden. They have also built a well at Jenoi, built three kitchens at schools to enable them to have a school meal. Helping supports Gambian scout groups; one group in Fass is befriended with Thorley scout and cub group. One in Cheesy Ma Jaw is befriended with Stanstead Abbotts and one at Medina Seringe Mass with 3rd Ware scouts They have raised money so all the Scouts at befriended groups have a uniform. They also send out badges and equipment to them. They are trying to get more scouts in England to befriend scouts in the Gambia. The charity also has over 200 children sponsored some of them are taking their college exams in Plumbing, I.T, Accounts, Graphic and design this will help them in their future. Helping also supplies a large amount of clothing and shoes to the poorest villages.

We have three paid Gambia helpers Sarjor and Karamo who do all the day to day running looking after projects ,pay school fees and making sure all is running smoothly and Alahigie our driver of the Land Rover